Anti-pilferage umbrella stand

ABSTRACT

A stand or display rack either fixedly anchored or supported on a display counter, in which a plurality of umbrellas are suspended by a loop or the like; a displaceable roof overlying the umbrellas and normally preventing removal until tilted to one side or raised; a pivotal lock-block normally preventing tilting of the cover, and a further hidden lock pin which must be displaced before the lock block can be pivoted.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 United States Patent [191 Ritzen 505,320 9/1893 Meadows................................ 211/4 3,610,423 10/1971 211/7 ANTI-PILFERAGE UMBRELLA STAND [75] Inventor: Servatius L. Ritzen, Montreal,

Quebec, Canada FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, East Montre aL Quebec, Canada Oct. 27, 1971 Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerThomas J. Holko Attorney-Alan Swabey [22] Filed:

Appl. No.: 192,982

[52] US. 211/4, 211/62 [51] Int. A47g 25/12, A47f 7/00 [58] Field of Search 21 1/4, 7, 62, 63,

umbrellas are suspended by a loop or the like; a displaceable roof overlying the umbrellas and normally [56] References Cited preventing removal until tilted to one side or raised; 21

UNITED STATES PATENTS pivotal lock-block normally preventing tilting of the cover, and a further hidden lock pin which must be 0 e t o .w n. a e r b w n i a F c g u .m mw b r k D c 5 o m e h .l t h m C :m 6 e b d e c h P .w d 4 uw II/ I l 2111 2 2 Risely et a1.

. E w g H ANTI-PILFERAGE UMBRELLA STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Umbrella stands (normally used to store checked umbrellas in a restaurant) and having lock means are well known as are ski checking racks, for example.

SHORTCOMINGS OF PRIOR ART Although racks or stands have been provided to protect individual items (including umbrellas), applicant has not found a rack or stand which makes immediately available a plurality of items (so several umbrellas can be shown and examined at once) and which also prevents unauthorized removal (or at least delays immediate removal of the umbrellas) unless one is aware of the procedure for unlocking the umbrellas to permit such removal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a display or support rack for artfully displaying a plurality of suspended items such as telescopic umbrellas, and more particularly a rack which comprises a vertically extending frame having a plurality of support fingers over which a lock roof is engaged to normally prevent removal of the umbrellas but which is tiltable or raised to permit umbrellas at one side of the rack to be removed and examined; the roof being tiltable or raised only after a lock-block has been pivoted to an unlock position, and if desired, a still further lock means (displaceable pin) can be displaceably mounted to be moved to an unlock position to permit the lock block to be pivoted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a display or support rack incorporating the features of the invention, the umbrellas being shown by phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view looking from one end of the rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing alternate positions of the locking means; intermediate portions being broken away, and showing an alternate fixed anchor for the rack;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the manner in which umbrellas can be simultaneously removed from opposite sides of the rack, contrary to only one side in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 55 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Pilferage is a growing concern of the average retailer and particularly where the ripping of of items not anchored down appears to be a way of life among many enlightened persons doing their thing.

Of particular concern are those items which are readily portable such as umbrellas, for example. It is important to prevent shop-lifting to minimize the loss of profit, merchandise, and eliminate possible law suits occasioned by arrests during shop-lifting, as well as to eliminate the time lost by personnel when prosecuting shop-lifters. The present invention substantially prevents or eliminates shop-lifting of umbrellas, or similar articles, and if the support rack sufficiently delays an item from being taken, the thief will generally move on to a place or items where the stealing is more efficient. Although the present invention is particularly adapted for use with umbrellas, similar items can be displayed and protected. It will be understood that the present invention will not stop pilferage, but will afford immediate display and access to the items (so the customer can examine and try the item) while substantially deterring pilferage. Referring to the drawing in detail, and briefly considering FIGS. 1 and 3, the stand as illustrated can be portable (FIG. 1) or could alternatively be anchored (not shown) in the support surface shown in FIG. 3; it being evident that a frustrated shop-lifter might walk off with the entire stand per FIG. 3, but would have to move the building if the stand is anchored to the floor.

The support stand of the invention is indicated generally at10 and comprises a U-shaped base frame 12, lock roof l4, and lock-block assembly 16. All of these generally indicated components cooperate to provide the anti-pilferage umbrella or display stand.

The base frame comprises foot elements 18 extending transversely of and intermediately secured (in any suitable manner) to the lower longitudinal member 20 which extends integrally and vertically in side frame members 22. Oriented by stop or abutment screws 24 extending into members 22 is a support rack 26 comprising disc elements 28 circumposed about the upper portions of frame members 22 (above screws 24) and having secured to opposite sides thereof, mutually parallel rods 30 extending transversely thereabove (and suitably secured by welding, for example) are cantilever support fingers 32 which include an intermediate, upwardly opening V-notch 34 (providing a channel along the width of the rack, see FIG. 3) for a purpose to be described. Each of the V-notches 34 have suspended therefrom, when used for display, relatively short umbrellas U including an upper ring R to which the conventional carrying strap S is attached. As seen in FIG. 4, the umbrella U has been lifted off its respective carrying finger. v

Telescoped on the upper end of the side frame members 22 and above the disc elements 28 are sleeve ele ments held in position by set screws 38; see FIG. 5. The sleeves 36 prevent upward movement of support rack 26. Each of the sleeves 36 and the side frame members 22 over which they are telescoped have extending through transverse, horizontal apertures 42 and 40, respectively, receiving terminal ends of a shaft 44 over which are telescoped fragmentary portions of orienting sleeves 46 which are disposed on opposite sides of a pivotal lock-block 48 having a through bore 50 journaled on the shaft 44. The shaft 44 is retained in assembled relation by terminal cap nuts 52 at opposite ends, and the upper end of the frame members 22 are tapped and receive therein cap screws 54.

The lock roof 14 comprises a generally shallow V- shaped element (in side elevation) having a flat top panel 56 and downwardly diverging side panels 58; the

panels 58 will engage the terminal ends of the cantile-- ver support fingers 32 and overly the V-notches thereof to normally prevent removal of the umbrellas when in the solid line position shown in FIG. 3. The roof 14 is mounted on sleeves 36 with sufficient play by apertures 14' (FlG.5, only one shown) so that the lower edge of a panel 58 can rest in the V-notches of fingers 32 opposite those from which umbrellas can be removed. In FIG. 4, the roof 14 is raised vertically and is not tilted as in FIG. 3, and umbrellas can be removed from fingers 32 from both sides of the display, the roof being supported manually.

The lock block must be pivoted from its vertical position to the lateral positions of FIGS. 3 and 4 to permit the roof 14 to be lifted or tilted to allow one to gain access to the umbrellas. Before describing further structure, the unauthorized taking of the umbrellas off the rack is substantially discouraged because of the time factor, i.e., the would-be thief must first have to know the combination to unlock the rack, then must pivot block 48, then raise the roof l4, and then lift the umbrella off the rack; although the combination of steps for unlocking are not too difficult to determine since clerical help needs ready access, the time factor tends to discourage pilferage.

To further discourage ready unlocking, the block 48 may include a spherical knob 60 having a pin 62 which extends through the shaft 44 and accordingly prevents rotation of the lock block until the pin is removed.

The panels 58 and top panel 56 provide areas to receive advertising indicia, product name, designer colors, etc.; the knob 60 can assume any desired shape or color to attract the consumers attention. Audible signals (not shown), either electrical or of the percussion type, can be utilized in conjunction with lifting with the roof or removal of the knob to apprise a clerk that the roof has been lifted; further, the unlocking of the display rack can be accompanied by the automatic playing of an appropriate tune (also apprising clerk), such as When It Rains It Rains Pennies From Heaven in the case of umbrellas.

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-pilferage display rack for a plurality of suspended articles comprising:

support frame means including vertical side portions for permitting unobstructed viewing of the articles,

said frame means comprising a support rack extending horizontally between said side portions and including cantilever portions for suspending the displayed articles;

lock member means displaceably mounted on said side portions and normally overlying said cantilever portions for preventing removal of articles therefrom; and

displaceable lock means on said frame and normally engaging and preventing displacement of said lock member means for preventing removal ofthe articles from the rack, said cantilever portions comprising a plurality of transversely disposed, oppositely directed cantilever finger members having upwardly opening notch portions adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, said lock member means comprising a roof member having an upper panel and divergent side panels, the marginal edge of one respective side panel being removably received in the upwardly opening notch portions of the finger members at one side when access is available to the articles at the opposite side of the support rack.

2. The display rack as set forth in claim 1 in which said support frame means is portable and includes support portions.

3. The display rack as set forth in claim 1 in which said displaceable lock means comprises a lock-block element pivotal on a horizontal axis and having a lower edge normally abuttingly engaging the roof member top panel for preventing displacement of the roof member and access to removing the articles.

4. The display rack as set forth in claim 3 in which said lock-block element includes a displaceable pin extending through a fixed pivot shaft terminally connected to said side portions of said frame means and providing still further lock means for said display rack.

5. An anti-pilferage display rack for a plurality of suspended articles comprising:

support frame means including vertical side portions for permitting unobstructed viewing of the articles,

said frame means comprising a support rack extending horizontally between said side portions and including cantilever portions for suspending the displayed articles;

lock member means displaceably mounted on said side portions and normally overlying said cantilever portions for preventing removal of articles therefrom; and

displaceable lock means on said frame and normally engaging and preventing displacement of said lock member means for preventing removal of the articles from the rack, said framemeans comprising a generally U-shaped member having a lower support portion, said lock member means comprising a vertically displaceable roof member having divergent side panels, said support rack having outer portions engaged by said divergent side panels for locking the articles therebeneath, said displaceable lock means comprising a pivotal lock-block overlying said roof member and abuttingly engaging the roof member until laterally pivoted whereby the roof member can be raised or pivoted and the articles can be removed from said rack.

6. The display rack as set forth in claim 5 in which said lock-block includes supplemental lock means for abuttingly engaging the same and preventing pivotal movement whereby the lock-block cannot be pivoted to permit the roof member to be displaced. 

1. An anti-pilferage display rack for a plurality of suspended articles comprising: support frame means including vertical side portions for permitting unobstructed viewing of the articles, said frame means comprising a support rack extending horizontally between said side portions and including cantilever portions for suspending the displayed articles; lock member means displaceably mounted on said side portions and normally overlying said cantilever portions for preventing removal of articles therefrom; and displaceable lock means on said frame and normally engaging and preventing displacement of said lock member means for preventing removal of the articles from the rack, said cantilever portions comprising a plurality of transverselydisposed, oppositely-directed cantilever finger members having upwardly opening notch portions adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, said lock member means comprising a roof member having an upper panel and divergent side panels, the marginal edge of one respective side panel being removably received in the upwardly opening notch portions of the finger members at one side when access is available to the articles at the opposite side of the support rack.
 2. The display rack as set forth in claim 1 in which said support frame means is portable and includes support portions.
 3. The display rack as set forth in claim 1 in which said displaceable lock means comprises a lock-block element pivotal on a horizontal axis and having a lower edge normally abuttingly engaging the roof member top panel for preventing displacement of the roof member and access to removing the articles.
 4. The display rack as set forth in claim 3 in which said lock-block element includes a displaceable pin extending through a fixed pivot shaft terminally connected to said side portions of said frame means and providing still further lock means for said display rack.
 5. An anti-pilferage display rack for a plurality of suspended articles comprising: support frame means including vertical side portions for permitting unobstructed viewing of the articles, said frame means comprising a support rack extending horizontally between said side portions and including cantilever portions for suspending the displayed articles; lock member means displacably mounted on said side portions and normally overlying said cantilever portions for preventing removal of articles therefrom; and displacable lock means on said frame and normally engaging and preventing displacement of said lock member means for preventing removal of the articles from the rack, said frame means comprising a Generally U-shaped member having a lower support portion, said lock member means comprising a vertically displacable roof member, said support rack having outer portions engaged by said roof member for locking the articles therebeneath, said displacable lock means comprising a pivotal lock-block overlying said roof member and abuttingly engaging the roof member until laterally pivoted whereby the roof member can be raised or pivoted and the articles can be removed from said rack.
 6. The display rack as set forth in claim 5 in which said lock-block includes supplemental lock means for abuttingly engaging the same and preventing pivotal movement whereby the lock-block cannot be pivoted to permit the roof member to be displaced. 